2011 Press Releases

Brattleboro, VT (Dec. 19, 2011)—Many will remember 2011 for the continued economic troubles, the lead-up to the 2012 presidential election, and unprecedented political demonstrations around the world and in our own backyards. As the year draws to a close, the Organic Trade Association (OTA) examines several myths about organic agriculture that were “busted” this year by researchers, the media and shoppers.

December 8, 2011, OTTAWA—Consumers wishing to avoid chemical pesticide residues in food, water and on farms have a simple choice: organic products, the Canada Organic Trade Association (COTA) said today. Repeated government samplings in North America and Europe have shown organic produce has much lower pesticides residues when compared to non-organic.

Brattleboro, VT (Nov. 2, 2011)—Seventy eight percent – more U.S. families than ever before – say they are choosing organic foods, according to a study published today by the Organic Trade Association (OTA). “In a time when the severity of the economy means making tough choices, it is extremely encouraging to see consumers vote with their values by including quality organic products in their shopping carts,” said Christine Bushway, OTA’s Executive Director and CEO. The finding is one of many contained in OTA’s newly released 2011 U.S. Families’ Organic Attitudes and Beliefs Study. “It’s clear that with more than three-quarters of U.S. families choosing organic, this has moved way beyond a niche market,” Bushway added.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Oct. 31, 2011— The State of Ohio today agreed that it will no longer pursue regulations limiting labeling on organic dairy products. Ohio had attempted to prohibit statements on labels which informed consumers that organic dairy products are produced without antibiotics, pesticides or synthetic hormones. After the Organic Trade Association (OTA) sued the State of Ohio, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals sided with consumers’ right to know and gutted the Ohio rule, finding that it was unconstitutional. Ohio has now agreed to abandon the rule rather than trying to revive it, recognizing that the First Amendment allows organic dairy products to proudly state that they are produced in accordance with the organic standards, without the use of synthetic growth hormones, pesticides, or antibiotics.

OTTAWA, Canada and BRATTLEBORO, VT (Oct. 6, 2011)—Matthew Holmes, Executive Director of the Canada Organic Trade Association (COTA), has been elected to the World Board of the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM). He is the first Canadian to be elected to the World Board. COTA is the exclusive affiliate of the Organic Trade Association (OTA), representing the organic sector in North America.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Oct 5, 2011)—The Organic Trade Association (OTA) has unveiled a new Organic Trade Resource Guide website to help facilitate international trade in organic agricultural products. OTA made the announcement in Seoul, South Korea, during the recent International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) World Congress.

NEW YORK and DENVER, Oct. 4, 2011 -- A coalition of nearly 400 businesses and organizations dedicated to food safety and consumer rights today called on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to require labeling of genetically engineered (GE) foods, to give consumers the right to know what is in our food.

Washington, D.C. (Sept. 26)—Matt McLean, president of Uncle Matt’s Organic Inc., has been named the new Board President of the Organic Trade Association (OTA), succeeding Julia Sabin of Smucker Natural Foods Inc. who served as president for the past three years.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Sept. 6, 2011) – U.S. companies eager to promote their organic products in international markets have the opportunity to do so this September without traveling overseas. This is due to a Reverse Trade and Foreign Buyers’ Mission organized by the Organic Trade Association (OTA) to be held in conjunction with All Things Organic-BioFach America at Natural Products Expo East in Baltimore, MD.

BRATTLEBORO, VT (Aug. 2, 2011): The Organic Trade Association (OTA) is pleased to announce that it has selected Michael Funk of United Natural Foods Inc. (UNFI) and Mark Lipson of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to receive its prestigious Organic Leadership Awards for 2011.

OTTAWA, Canada (June 30, 2011) -- Canada’s Organic Products Regulations will be fully enforced after June 30, two years after the regulations became law in 2009. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has followed a two-year Stream of Commerce and Enforcement Policy, allowing operators time to become fully compliant with the regulations. During this “phase-in” period, the CFIA managed minor non-compliances through notification and education, requiring correction within reasonable timelines.

BRATTLEBORO, VT (May 26, 2011)—The Organic Trade Association’s (OTA) 2011 Annual Fund campaign, which grew by nearly 25 percent this year, reached a new record to help fund OTA’s government relations, consumer education, and media outreach work in the United States and Canada. Without the generous support of these contributors, the valuable programs offered by the trade association would not be possible.

BRATTLEBORO, VT (May 18, 2011)—The Organic Trade Association (OTA) is currently seeking nominations for its prestigious Organic Leadership Awards. The awards are given to individuals who have made significant contributions to the organic industry.

BRATTLEBORO, VT. (April 22, 2011)—Three independent studies just published found that children whose mothers are exposed to common agricultural pesticides are more likely to experience a range of deleterious effects in their cognitive development, including lower IQ, as well as impaired reasoning and memory. Organic agriculture prohibits the use of these pesticides, and all other toxic and persistent chemicals.

BRATTLEBORO, VT. (April 21, 2011)—The organic industry grew at a rate of nearly eight percent in 2010, bucking the current trend whereby “flat is the new growth” for many other segments of the economy. Further, some sectors of the organic market enjoyed annual growth of well over 30 percent, the Organic Trade Association (OTA) revealed today in releasing findings from its 2011 Organic Industry Survey. In 2010, the organic industry grew to over $28.6 billion.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 6, 2011)—Organic farming is an important part of the U.S. agricultural landscape, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack today told participants at the Organic Trade Association’s (OTA’s) 2011 Policy Conference and Hill Visit Days here in D.C.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 29, 2011)—Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and Members of Congress from both sides of the political aisle will be featured speakers at the Organic Trade Association’s (OTA’s) 2011 Policy Conference and Hill Visit Days set to draw a record number of industry representatives here April 6-7.

ANN ARBOR, Mich., and BATTLEBORO, Vt. (March 8, 2011)—Everyone is talking about food safety, particularly in light of last year’s landmark FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, improving the ability of industry and government to help prevent foodborne illness. Whether you are an organic farmer, manufacturer, handler or retailer, the HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) system is critical to your business.

Washington, D.C., (March 7, 2011)—The Organic Trade Association (OTA) today announced it will honor Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio with its 2011 Public Servant Award next month. Senator Sherrod Brown, a first-term Democrat from Ohio, will receive OTA’s highest award for a public servant during OTA’s 2011 Policy Conference and Hill Visit Days in Washington. OTA Board President Julia Sabin, General Manager of Smucker Natural Foods, and Timothy P. Smucker, Chairman of the Board and Co-CEO of The J.M. Smucker Company, will be on hand to present the award during the conference sessions Wednesday morning, April 6, at the Hall of the States here in Washington. The J.M. Smucker Company's corporate headquarters is located in Senator Brown's district in Orrville, Ohio.

WASHINGTON, D.C. ( March 1, 2011)—The Organic Trade Association (OTA) announces that Gwendolyn Wyard will begin working for OTA on Monday, March 7, to fill the new position of Associate Director for Organic Standards and Industry Outreach for the association.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Feb, 7, 2011)— The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has made a decision to continue to allow planting of St Louis based-Monsanto’s Roundup Ready sugar beets despite a court order to complete a final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) before making any decision on deregulation for genetically engineered (GE) sugar beets. The crop in question is genetically altered to tolerate increased application of toxic herbicides. Astoundingly, this decision comes one week after the USDA decision to release Roundup Ready alfalfa without restriction. Monsanto owns both the Roundup herbicide and the genetically altered crops.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Jan. 31, 2011) --The Organic Trade Association (OTA) today was gratified to see that the final version of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010, released by the Secretaries of the U.S. Departments of Agriculture (USDA) and Health & Human Services (HHS), does not include a misleading resource document concerning organic foods that was part of the draft report package released in 2010.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Jan. 27, 2011)— The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced plans to allow commercial planting of Forage Genetics International’s (FGI) Glyphosate-Tolerant Alfalfa genetically engineered to tolerate St. Louis-based Monsanto’s Roundup herbicide without any federal requirements to prevent contamination of the rest of alfalfa seed and plantings. The genetically engineered technology is licensed exclusively to the seed maker FGI by Monsanto. The expected impact of this decision is far reaching, particularly to organic farmers.

BRATTLEBORO, VT (Jan. 27, 2011)— U.S. growers of organic cotton increased plantings of organic cotton acreage by 12 percent in 2010 over that planted in 2009, according to preliminary data collected by the Organic Trade Association (OTA) in a survey funded by Cotton Incorporated.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Jan. 20, 2011)— The U.S. House of Representatives’ Agriculture Committee today held a member forum spearheaded by Chairman Frank D. Lucas (OK) questioning Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) authority in considering deregulation with conditions (Alternative 3 in the Final Environmental Impact Statement) of Monsanto’s Roundup Ready (RR) Alfalfa.

Course will educate food safety, operation and communication professionals about HACCP principles and how they apply to organic operations

(ANN ARBOR, Mich. and BRATTLEBORO, Vt.) – January 14, 2011 – The Organic Trade Association (OTA) and NSF International’s Training and Education division have joined forces and expertise to offer a two-day intensive program entitled, “HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) for the Organic Professional.” The workshop is an essential resource for companies in the industry committed to maintaining both certified organic and food safety standards.